lambert and s



E. A. LAMBERT AND S. G. WENMAN-ADIE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION man sun: 25. 1919.

'1 ,323,873. Patented Dec. 2, 1919;

4 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ERNEST ALFRED LAMBERT, OF I -IADLEIGH, AND-STANLEY GEORGE wENMAN ADIE, OF

NORTHIAM, ENGLAND.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

To all whom itma'y concern:

Be it known-that we, ERNEST ALFRED LAMBERT and STANLEY GEORGE VVENMAN- starting and reversal of internal combustion engines and the like fluid pressure engines and has for its object to provide improved means for controlling the. distribution of compressed air or other working fluidto cylinders arranged for starting and reversin the crank shaft.

lhe invention consists of a distributing valve comprising a stationary outer member having supply and delivery connections for the working fluid, a rotatable inner member provided with'a port to whichthe working fluid is supplied from the supply connection on the-outer member, and an angularly adjustable intermediate member "capable of a limited axial movement adapted tocontrol the passage of the working fluid from-a distributer port in tlie innermemher to the delivery connections of theouter member. a

There nay-also be provided in combination with, the intermediate member means for automatically controlling the supply of thoworkin fluid to the supply connection in t) the outermember.

Inthe accompanying drawings,

Figure-1 isa vertical sectional view of the improved distributing valve. for afour cylhaving; asupply connection 2"- and four delivery connections Q -for the working fluid. .An-attachment plate 2 is provided on the outer member bywhich it is firmlyse.

cured to some fixed part. v

3 1 indicatestbe ,inner member which has a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application fil ed-June 25, 1919. Serial No. 306,588.

port 3 to which air isv supplied from the supply connection 2 in the outer member 2.

4 is the adjustable intermediate member which controls the'passage of the working fluid from the distributer port 3 in the inner member to the delivery connections 2* in the outer member.

5 is a cylinder'having a plunger 5 in operative connection wlth the intermediate -member 4 and provided with supply and delivery ports 5", 5 for the working fluid. As

shown, said cylinder is carried by a bracket 5 rattachedto the base of the outer member. 6 is a rotating shaft to which the inner member 3 is loosely keyed, said shaft being rotated in unison wlth the crank shaft of the engine or air motor so that the opening and closing ofthe various ports at any instant synchronize with the'cycle of operations in the different cylinders to which the working fluid is supplied.-

The various delivery ports 2* may either be coupled up direct to the cylinders'of the internal combustion engine or to the-cylinders of an auxiliary starting and reversing engine or motor the shaft of which would be adapted for'operative connection with the crank shaft of the main engine.

In the concrete example shown in the drawings, the threemembers 2, 3 and 4: of

the valve are arranged concentrically about the shaft 6 and have suitablymachined surfaces'for engaging each other in a fluid tight manner. I

The inner member 3 isof conical form and capable of a small amount of axial movement on the shaft 6to-which it is keyed, said movement beinglimited in the one direction by'a screw 7 and by theshoulder '3 on :the shaft 6 inthe opposite direction.

,This small amount of axial play is provided to-allow the inner member to be normally.

heldjinrclose contact with the correspondingly cone'd inside surface of the intermediate member by means of small compression springs 9 arranged inrecesses 10in the'inner member and bearing against the shoulderv 8 .on the shaft. By means of this arrangement the springs 9 are able to take up any wear betweenthe inner and intermediate members.-

Similarly the'exterior of the intermediate member is made conical and fits withinthe correspondingly shaped interior of the outer member.

For the purpose of retarding or advancing the admission of the workmg fluid the 1ntermediate member is adapted to have a limited rotary movement betweenthe inner and outer members, sald movement being imparted thereto by suitable mechanical is interposed between the supply pipe 12 7 and the outer member. This cylinder is fitted with a plunger 5 which is connected to the intermediate member by a nut 13 and, screw shank l4. and takesthe full pressure v of supply.

Where it is desired that the supply of fluid V to the outer member shall be cut oil during the period when the intermediate member is moving from one positlon to another, the

said intermediate member may be adapted to have a small amount of axial play relatively to the inner andout'er members so that when moved outwardly the said member forces the plunger 5 forward in the cylinder until its inner end closes the outlet port therein thus shutting-oft the supply of fluid for the time being to the supply connection 2 of the outer member. In order that the aforesaid axialimovement of the intermediat member shall only take placeand have theeflect of shutting off the air supply as above explained at a predetermined point .or points 111 the angular ad1ustment of the said intermediate member, the front of the fixed outer member 2 1s provided with cam surfaces 15 upon which rollers 16 carried by the intermediate member ride as the latter is rotated from one position to another.

Air vents 17 are provided in the closed end of the intermediate member to allow for the free axial movement of the same.

The fluidsupply from the cylinder 5 is conducted. by the supply; pipe 12 to the supply port 2 in the outer member 2 whence it fpasses through a port t in the intermediate member to an annular groove 3 see F 1g. 4,

in the inner member. 'The port 2 in the outer member is of suiflcient length to maintain a free passage for the air supply through theport 4- in the intermediate memher to the groove 3 of the inner member irgroove 3 'there is a 6.5

respective of thechange of angular position of'the said intermediate member; Formed in the inner member is a d1stributeri port 8 of segmental shape, see Fig. 3, between which and the aforesaid annular fluid from the latter to said port.

passage 3 for admitting The delivery ports2 in the outer member are connected by suitable pipes with the en gine cylinders or with the 'starting and re versing cylinders as the case may be and formed in the intermediate: member are two sets of ports 4? in different planes which correspond with the said delivery ports 2 and control admission of fluid to said ports from the distributer port 3 in the inner member.

By a rotary adjustment of the intermedi-.

ate member the positionof these controlling ports in relation to thedelivery ports 2 is changed and the admission of the working fluid is advanced or retarded as-required, the fluid passing from the distributing port in the inner. rotating member to the delivery ports2 in succession whence it is conducted 'to the cylinders in the proper sequence. The angular or circumferential lengthof the distributer port 3 governs the period of admission of, the fluid to each cylinder. i

What we claim and Letters Patent of the United States, is- V 1. A starting and reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having fluid supply and delivery ports, a rotatable inner member hav ing a port in communication with the supply port in the outer member, an angularly adjustable intermediate member adapted to control the passage of the working fluid between the inner and outer members, and means for" imparting a limited ment to said intermediate member during its angular adjustment for the purposes of regulating-the supply of fluid to the outer member.

axial movedesire to secure by 2. A starting and reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising "stationary outer member having'supply' and delivery ports for the working fluid, an inner member havinga port in communication with the supply port in the'outer member, means for rotating said inner member in unison with the cycle of operations of the engine, an angularly adjustable intermediate member having portsadapted'to establish cOmmuni '1 cation between'the ports in the inner and outer members, cam surfaces on said outer member and rollers on said intermediate member adapted tori'de on sa1d camsurfaces so as to impart axial movement'to'the' intermediate member during its angular "adjustment.

3. A starting reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having ports for the supply.

working fluid, afrotatable inner member having aport in "com 25 and delivery of the munication with the supply port inthe outer member, an lntermediate member capable of a limited axial movementrelatively to' the V inner and outer members and provided with ports to establish I communication between the ports in'the said inner andfouter members and means operated by theaxial movement of said intermediate member to control the supply of fluid to said outer member.

a. A starting and reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having supply and delivery ports for the working fluid, a comcal inner member having a distributer port in constant communication with the supply port in the outer member, a shaft for rotating said inner member in unison with the cycle of operations of theengine, an angu larly adjustable intermediate member hav ing a hollow conical interior for the inner member and provided with ports adapted to establish communication on the one hand between the supply port in the outer, member and the distributer port in the inner member and on the other hand between the said distributer port and the delivery ports in the outer member, means for imparting a limited axial movement to said intermediate member during its angular adjustment, a cylinder having inlet and outlet ports communicating respectively with the source of fluid supply and the supply port of the outer member, and a plunger attached to said intermediate member'and adapted to be moved in said cylinder bythe axial movement of the said intermediate member.

5. A starting and reversing valve forfluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having supply and delivery ports for the working fluid, a conical inner member having a d1str1buter port in constant communicatlon with thesupply port in the outer member, a shaft forrotating said inner member in unison with the cycle of operations of the engine, an angularly adjustable intermediate member having a hollow conical interior for the inner member and having ports adapted to establish communication on the one hand between the supply port in the outer member and the distributer port in the inner member and on the otherhand between the said distributer port and the delivery ports in the outer member, cam surfaces on the fixed outer member, rollers carried by said intermediate member and adapted to ride on said cam surfaces so as to impart a limited axial movement to said intermediate member during its angular adjustment, and means-operatively connected with said intermediate member for controlling the supply of fluid to the outer member,

6. Astarting and reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having a hollow conical interior and provided with supply and dellvery ports, a conical intermediate member angularly adjustable within said outer member and having an oppositely conical interior, ports in said intermediate member communicating with the supply and delivery ports in the outer member, a conical inner member adapted to rotate within said intermediate member in unison with the cycle of operations of the engine and having a distributer port in communication with the ports in the intermediate member, means for imparting a limited axial movement to said intermediate member relatively to said inner and outer members, a cylinder provided with inlet" and outlet ports communieating respectively with the source of fluid supply'an'd with the supply port in the outer member, a plunger working in said cylinder and operatively connected with said intermediate member. 4 V

7. A startingand reversing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a stationary outer member having supply and delivery ports'for the working fluid, an angularly adjustable intermediate member having ports corresponding with the supply and delivery ports in the outer member, means forimpart'ing a limited aXial movement to said intermediate member during its angular adjustment, an inner member having an annular groove opposite the supply port in the' intermediate member and a distributer port opening into said groove and adapted to establish successive communication with the delivery ports in said intermediate memher, a shaft for rotating said inner member in unison with the cycle of operations of the engine, .a cylinder provided with inlet and outlet ports communicating respectively I with'the source of fluid supply and with the supply port in the outer member, and a plunger working in said cylinder and operatively connected with said intermediate member. 

